Named after a folk melody medley I wrote years ago, the Crossroads Inn is a small instance based around the idea of a cosy multifunctional building from where it's possible to go in every direction.

I've considered setting up my own Mastodon instance since joining in 2022, but decided to try a few already-established instances first. The Fediverse is, well, diverse, but it is also rather specific and sprawling; that's the nature of the beast. I say "specific" because most instances have a theme, either set up that way or developed by the user base through the local timeline. And because it's sprawling, it's sometimes hard to know what exactly is out there and might be a good fit. The instances where I felt most at home were more general in nature, yet I often felt I was too specific. It just didn't really fit for me. Cue The Crossroads Inn.

I do not want to categorically state that this instance will remain closed to people interested in making it their Fediverse home, but currently it can only support a handful of active users. If I do decide to open it up for others, I'll have to consider what is reasonable for me to manage, both in terms of moderation and costs. For now, I'll be happy to hear from you (preferably via DM) if you're interested, but I cannot make any promises.

With love, Cassana

Concerning moderation

Although The Crossroads Inn is a very small instance, it still feels essential to lay out a fundamental framework for what is not tolerated; not only for legal reasons, but as a general guideline. However, this will not be phrased in the usual way, e.g., no racism, ablism, homophobia, transphobia, etc., though these things are, of course, implied in the following statement, which is meant to encapsulate more terms than can be enumerated.

Users on this instance are kindly requested to consider what they post about, and how it is presented. Sharing opinions and critique is a natural part of human discourse, yet should be understood as not being fixed. Opinions and critique, especially including hierarchical value judgements or when presented as facts or absolutes, is where problems arise, and where we must draw a clear line. This includes outright statements that alienate or devalue individuals and groups, or comparisons designating inferiority or superiority based on innately unquantifiable factors, e.g., ethnicity, appearance, aesthetic/lifestyle choices, assumed aptitudes/capabilities, etc.

1. nothing.tacowolf.net: suspension